At last - WOF for Tenants

[Bob Kane]

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-...lace-call-home

... the Hawke's Bay District Health Board-led plan could have the answer.
A two-session course called "Ready to Rent" teaches the responsibilities and rights of tenants.
This is around how to manage a warm, dry home, household cleaning and maintenance and where to go when you need help, said Lisa Pohatu, Ready to Rent coordinator.


Passing a final test earns participants a letter of support, which they can present when applying for properties.

It's up and running.
Should we endorse it and suggest a few additions?

[PC]

Lesson 1:
How to pull curtains and open a window.
Lesson 2:
This is a rubbish bin.

[artemis]

Might work, though if 40 applications are coming in for a property hard to see that first time renters with a letter would trump applicants with a good rental and credit history.

Of course property managers would (say that they) support it. Why not. That does not necessarily mean an offer.

At least it is an attempt to help, which is better than most areas which do nothing for first time renters.

[Nick G]

It's a start. Better would be for the PMs to offer feedback and tips on their inspections. You could drive past all your rental book on a couple of winter mornings and see which look like there is too much condensation on the windows and which are fine.

[Halfway To Paradise]

It could be followed up with a course on how to be a responsible citizen.

[eri]

could it be followed up with annual licensing of tenants

start it in wellington

make the tenant licence voluntary at first, if people don't like it, force it on them

tie the licencing fee to the building wof fee

[Learning]

Lesson 1:
How to pull curtains and open a window.
Lesson 2:
This is a rubbish bin.

Is it our parents or grandparents fault for failing to teach our current generations how to maintain a healthy environment? Then again I can't remember the last time my teenage daughter opened her bedroom curtains or windows without being told to do so.

These uninsulated, single glazed, poorly heated, no ventilation, 1940's to 70's houses didn't become uninsulated, single glazed, poorly heated with no ventilation overnight. They've been like it since they were built. Most of us grew up in them and they weren't damp, cold and mouldy back then.

Is it that now everyone is out working, where as back then mum was always at home during the day and would open windows, clean up condensation and mould?

[Nzdan]

Was certainly our problem when my wife and I were renting Learning. The lack of security stays on the windows (not even double tongue latches) meant we were spending 20 minutes each day before work wiping down the windows. Saves the sills from rot but didn't make the place any less damp.

[Courham]

could it be followed up with annual licensing of tenants

start it in wellington

make the tenant licence voluntary at first, if people don't like it, force it on them

tie the licencing fee to the building wof fee

Love it! $250 would be a nice starting point

Craig

[flyernzl]

Program to improve rental conditions

The New Zealand Property Investors' Federation (NZPIF) fully supports the Hawke's Bay District Health Board's Ready to Rent Program.

The DBH has worked with the Hawke's Bay Property Investors' Association, budget advice services and WINZ to develop the program, which aims to help tenants struggling to find suitable rental accommodation.
The Ready to Rent program provides tenants with two sessions where they learn about their rights and responsibilities, plus how they can better manage their home.

Tenants will learn their rights and responsibilities in regards to repairs and maintenance. This includes learning that they do not have to put up with maintenance work not being carried out by their landlord plus their responsibilities in keeping the home in a clean and tidy condition.

The program covers topics such as how to manage a warm dry home, household cleaning and heating tips, budgeting advice, how to prepare and apply for a rental property and where to get help when they need it.
A study of local landlords showed that 85% would use this scheme to find the best candidate for their property.

“First time renters do not have a reference”, said Past President of the Hawke's Bay Property Investors' Association, Graham Duff. "This, in effect, is a reference for them. I expect this to become standard practice around the country".

New laws introduced last year and supported by the NZ Property Investors' Federation make it compulsory for rental properties to be insulated. The NZPIF encourages all rental property owners to insulate their rentals as soon as they can.

Combined with compulsory insulation, the Ready to Rent program is a cost effective solution that will see the living standards of renters improve considerably.

The NZPIF would like to see the Ready to Rent program introduced throughout the country as soon as possible.

ENDS
For further information please contact:
Andrew King
Executive Officer, NZ Property Investors’ Federation

[Perry]

The program covers topics such as how to manage a warm dry home . . .

Very topical. But how did the obvious escape the NZPIF's mention?

In order to be able to manage a warm home, a tenant needs to heat the house, first.

And the tenant needs to be able to afford the heating cost.

[flyernzl]

NZPIF is not WINZ.
WINZ is paid to be WNZ, NZPIF is not.

[Perry]

Of course I grasp that but it changes nothing.

Why couldn't the NZPIF make mention of that problem?

Especially given your experience.

The point needs to be strongly made and often repeated, as it could help get fingers pointing away from LLs and at the real cause.

[sidinz]

Program to improve rental conditions

The New Zealand Property Investors' Federation (NZPIF) fully supports the Hawke's Bay District Health Board's Ready to Rent Program.

The DBH has worked with the Hawke's Bay Property Investors' Association, budget advice services and WINZ to develop the program, which aims to help tenants struggling to find suitable rental accommodation.
The Ready to Rent program provides tenants with two sessions where they learn about their rights and responsibilities, plus how they can better manage their home.

Tenants will learn their rights and responsibilities in regards to repairs and maintenance. This includes learning that they do not have to put up with maintenance work not being carried out by their landlord plus their responsibilities in keeping the home in a clean and tidy condition.

The program covers topics such as how to manage a warm dry home, household cleaning and heating tips, budgeting advice, how to prepare and apply for a rental property and where to get help when they need it.
A study of local landlords showed that 85% would use this scheme to find the best candidate for their property.

“First time renters do not have a reference”, said Past President of the Hawke's Bay Property Investors' Association, Graham Duff. "This, in effect, is a reference for them. I expect this to become standard practice around the country".

New laws introduced last year and supported by the NZ Property Investors' Federation make it compulsory for rental properties to be insulated. The NZPIF encourages all rental property owners to insulate their rentals as soon as they can.

Combined with compulsory insulation, the Ready to Rent program is a cost effective solution that will see the living standards of renters improve considerably.

The NZPIF would like to see the Ready to Rent program introduced throughout the country as soon as possible.

ENDS
For further information please contact:
Andrew King
Executive Officer, NZ Property Investors’ Federation

Somebody tell the NZPIF how to spell 'programme.'

[Perry]

Somebody tell the NZPIF how to spell 'programme.'

Perhaps give them a little latitude, Sidinz?

Many people don't know their word processor software well enough to change their resident dictionary to NZ or Australian English from Mangled States of American English.

Subject: UK is taking back America

A Message from John Cleese: To the Citizens of the
United States of America:

In light of your failure to elect a competent President of
the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give
notice of the revocation of your independence, effective
immediately.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency,
the following rules are introduced with immediate effect.

You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English
Dictionary. Then look up aluminium, and check the
pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how
wrongly you have been pronouncing it. The letter 'U' will
be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour.'

Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without
skipping half the letters, and the suffix -ize will be
replaced by the suffix -ise. Generally, you will be
expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels.
(look up vocabulary).

There is no such thing as US English. We will let
Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-
checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated
letter 'u' and the elimination of -ize.

Hollywood will be required to cast English actors to
play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell
attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral
was an experience akin to having one's ears removed
with a cheese grater.